Our Mission

Don’s career includes national leadership in public lands management and natural resource policy with USFS, NPS, FWS, BLM, NGOs and states. He served as SCA’s Alaska regional director establishing its state office, and strategic alliances supporting programs in fisheries, forestry and recreation resources.

Areas of his specialized work include trails and recreation resource management, community protection in wildland fire, invasive species mitigation, Wild and Scenic rivers management, and  Wilderness science and stewardship.

Don served as wilderness social scientist and planner with the USDA Forest Service; founder and board chair of the Society of Wilderness Stewardship; member of the Western Governors Association Forest Health Advisory Committee; and member of the Public Lands Service Coalition.

Don has a MES in wilderness management and BA in environmental journalism.

I’ve worked on restoration projects around the region and was key to successful implementation of the Northwest Straits Initiative’s creosote debris removal program and an important partner on many nearshore projects.

Experiencing this beautiful state by climbing, back country skiing, kayaking, and hiking has only grown my love for it. By helping Northwest Straits Foundation with the day-to-day tasks, I hope to protect the area and its inhabitants so the future can see the beauty I am blessed to see everyday.

I have always been a frequent backpacker as well as an avid recreational fisherman, therefore, I have spent much of my time observing wildlife habitat and how drastically it has changed in such a short period of time. 

My observations caused me to develop a tremendous amount of empathy for these species and ultimately drew me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Western Washington University.

My time spent procuring this degree supplied me with the knowledge I need to pursue a career in restoration, and my position as a Marine Fellow with the Northwest Straits Foundation will provide me with the opportunity to turn this knowledge into experience. I hope that by taking part in restoring our shorelines and monitoring fish activity in the Pacific Northwest region I can help repair the complex marine ecosystem which our wildlife so desperately rely on.

I am thrilled to be a part of the Northwest Straits Foundation this year and am looking forward to our upcoming conservation work. I have been a commercial fisherwoman in Alaska for the past four years where I have developed a deep understanding and appreciation of the ocean. 

My environmental education and experiences on the ocean have contributed greatly to my desire to work with the Northwest Straits Foundation. I am excited to share my passion and knowledge for protecting our aquatic ecosystems and supporting the community members that rely on them.

on the Snohomish MRC, including serving two terms as chair of the committee. Jerry is past chair of the Northwest Straits Commission and also serves as a gubernatorial appointee to the Northwest Straits Commission. Jerry is excited by the Initiative’s ability to accomplish work through voluntary actions and its sense that responsibility for environmental outcomes should be shared by all.

She lives in Seattle where she is a Senior Advisor for 501 Commons Service Corps–orienting and supporting volunteers who help build the capacity of nonprofits throughout Washington State. She had her own consulting practice and has worked with nonprofits, foundations and local governments.  Nan previously managed the Environmental Sustainability Program for The Russell Family Foundation.  From 1985 to 2002, she served three Washington Governors, first as deputy director and executive director of the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority and later as chair of the Puget Sound Action Team. Prior to that, Nan worked as Energy Project Coordinator for the Washington State associations of cities and counties. She also worked for the League of Oregon Cities on issues ranging from land use and growth management to energy policy and election law.  Nan has served on a variety of public and nonprofit boards.  She was a founding member of the Association of National Estuary Programs and is a past president of the Environmental Education Association of Washington.  She currently chairs the board of the Sustainable Path Foundation and serves on the boards of North Cascades Institute and Western River Conservancy.  She is also a member of advisory boards to Curriculum for the Bioregion, the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, and the Salish Sea Institute.

After earning a BS in Marine Biology, Emily moved to San Juan Island to pursue her dream of working with orcas and fell in love with island life. Working in marine tourism for almost a decade, Emily has had the opportunity to see the effects of ecosystem health on communities and had the opportunity to be a part of meetings and rulings regarding marine wildlife and regulations. Emily brings knowledge of the marine tourism industry and marine biology to the board and is excited to work with Northwest Straits Foundation to protect the ecosystem she has come to call home.

She has worked on a broad range of issues including forest canopy research, rare plant conservation, natural area stewardship, native oyster restoration, water quality, shoreline and estuary restoration and climate change. Her interest is in bring together people, funding, technical resources and sound science to make informed decisions and strategic investments in Puget Sound. She believes healthy, functioning habitats are key to supporting vibrant and sustainable local communities. She values the Northwest Straits Foundation’s commitment to informed policy through sound science, citizen engagement, public-private partnerships, and voluntary conservation. Betsy was an integral member of the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Program which created the state’s nearshore ecosystem restoration strategy for Puget Sound. She helped create and manage the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program which provides funding and technical assistance for high quality nearshore restoration, protection and monitoring in Puget Sound. She has a BS in Botany from the University of Washington and a Master of Environmental Studies from the Evergreen State College. She currently lives and works in the Seattle area.

Calm Cove Oyster Company began operation in 1946. Currently, Duane volunteers on
a couple other boards such as the Pacific Shellfish Institute, and the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers
Association.

Duane served in various roles as staff to the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority ( then Action Team,
and PS Partnership) from 1991 to 2014. As Deputy Director, he proudly became associated with the
NWSI, and was a former member of the Northwest Straits Commission serving from its inception until 2014 when he retired.

Duane has a passion and interest in observing and photo-document the natural world. Over the past 70+ years, he has overlooked the shores of Totten Inlet, noting changes and behaviors of birds, mammals, fish and other marine life, and is proud to have instilled that interest in his daughters, Evie and Anna.

As long as mind and body allow him to stay active doing important conservation and restoration work,
with fun and dedicated staff and fellow board members of the NWSF, he is honored to remain engaged.